Throw the book at them

Each and every human being experiences childhood in different ways. Each person’s story is different from the one before. That’s because we are all unique, we all have different traits that shape us and make us the people (and activists) we are today.

For me, during my childhood, I lived thousands of lives. I woke up in different countries and regularly saw the sun set from islands, from cities, from everywhere. I met sailors and pirates and Gods and Kings.. I did this all while not leaving my house.

I did this through books. I read them all — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Through these magical pages, I saw the world in all its beautiful, vibrant, sometimes painful, exquisite glory. For anyone who has fallen in love — deeply, permanently in love — with the written word, you understand my thoughts on this matter. One reason – among hundreds — we need to win in 2024 is because of the written word.

Book bans. Burning books. Sound primitive and barbaric to you? It IS primitive and barbaric. I direct you, friends and readers, to Huntsville, Alabama. “Read me a Story, Stella” is an illustrated, delightful children’s book. It was put on a list of “sexually explicit books.”

Now you might say to yourself: a children’s book? Being sexually explicit? And you’d be correct. This book has nothing in it about sex. Its subject matter is children building doghouses. Sounds pretty child-friendly to me.

Then WHY was it almost banned? Because the author’s name is Marie-Louise Gay. This is not a joke. It was the last name of “Gay” that got it put on the chopping block. Luckily, the book was not banned. Gay’s publicist was incredulous that Alabama county had such an “itchy book-banning trigger finger and said so.

Likewise, as this story hit social media., people were stunned by the obvious incompetence, not to mention that such a book came this close to being banned. “So they are using algorithms to ban books now,” one person exclaimed. “Just when you think Republicans can’t get any dumber, they prove us wrong,” said someone else.

Others were deeply emotional, with one user saying: “This brings tears to my eyes. Republicans are turning into fascists right before our eyes.” Others responded with humor, with one person remarking: “Do the Republicans even know how to read?”

Elections have consequences, and I understand that. This is why we must continue to win, and to win and to win. Republicans can’t govern. That’s a fact. They’ve shown us time and time and time again. Their behavior is echoing that of dictators. Many books are available for reading about some of the world’s dictators.

So this is one more reason — a huge one — to vote blue, tell your friends, family, and acquaintances to vote blue — let’s save our magnificent written words– words that have inspired and continue to inspire so very many.